Bayad partners with Go VIP center
Bayad, the pioneer brand in the outsourced payment collection system, has partnered with Go VIP Center, a leading business solutions and financial services provider, to enable customers with more convenient ways to pay their bills.
Under the partnership, more than 1,000 Go VIP payment centers can now accept bills payments for different utilities and government contributions including the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), PLDT, and Metro Manila Development Authority.
The new feature is on top of the usual money transfer, remittance, airtime loading, delivery, and microinsurance services offered in Go VIP payment centers.
Go VIP Center President and CEO Julie M. Estares said the partnership with Bayad is aligned with their mission to deliver innovative and convenient financial solutions to Filipinos.
For his part, Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer said the partnership aims to provide customers with more accessible physical touchpoints for bills payment.
A wholly owned unit of Meralco, Bayad enables partners to attain a nationwide presence and provides end-to-end support services for efficient payment and collection processing.
TESDA, SMC partner to train Filipino workers for new airport
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) are launching a skills training program to enable a greater number of Filipinos to participate in opportunities at its New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project as well as its various strategic initiatives across the country.
SMC President Ramon S. Ang and TESDA Secretary and Director General Suharto T. Mangudadatu, signed a memorandum of agreement that expands their existing partnership to more provinces.
Ang cited that at the moment, the company is already working with over a hundred foreign experts in various fields at the airport project, currently in the first phase of construction–land redevelopment, or the process of turning what was once land converted into fishponds, back into land form again.
Filipinos working at the site are already learning from these foreign experts, and may then be tapped to teach and pass on skills and knowledge to the next batches of workers to be trained by TESDA, and hired by SMC.
The SMC-TESDA partnership, which started in 2020, has now expanded to include Pangasinan, Laguna, and Palawan. Initially, the partnership covered residents of Bulacan, Bataan, Batangas, Quezon Province, General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Davao del Sur.
The program, which began in Bulacan and extended to different provinces, initially offered courses in heavy equipment operations, shielded metal arc welding, entrepreneurship training, electrical installation and maintenance, dressmaking, baking, and cookery.
The SMC-TESDA program is also geared towards benefitting displaced workers, returning Overseas Filipino Workers, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities, and other qualified clients.
P&G donates new health center to improve lives in Pastrana, Leyte
Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, the leading consumer goods manufacturer of health and hygiene products such as Safeguard, Tide, Joy, Head & Shoulders, and Oral-B, recently completed the construction of an eco-friendly health center in Pastrana, Leyte to ensure the community has access to quality health services. This marks the second health center P&G built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philippines to improve access to quality health services in the community.
The health center used eco-bricks made from 64 kilograms of plastic waste produced by the Homeowners Association of North Tacloban Eco-Hub in Kawayanville, Tacloban. The center is equipped with essential medical equipment and facilities. It serves as a vital resource for approximately 1,100 individuals, catering to their healthcare needs and giving them access to proper pre and post-natal care for pregnant women as the center features accredited birthing, labor, and treatment rooms.
For over 87 years, P&G has remained steadfast in its dedication to supporting Filipinos by promoting health and hygiene through its products, partnerships, business, and investments. In April 2021, P&G built its first health center in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Marilog, Davao to improve the lives of nearly 2,000 individuals in Barangay Baganihan by implementing a comprehensive health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) program. The project also focused on educating marginalized and vulnerable groups about health, hygiene, and sanitation. In addition to training sessions and workshops, P&G also provided hygiene kits containing its trusted products from well-loved brands.
MOVE IT helps habal-habal drivers obtain professional driving license
Continuing on its commitment to professionalize habal-habal riders, MOVE IT — a homegrown Filipino MC Taxi company, officially kickstarts its ‘Habal-Habal to Legal’ program which seeks to assist and guide habal-habal riders as they try to obtain a professional license. The motorcycle (MC) taxi company held its first sign-up event last August 12, drawing over countless habal-habal riders who aspire to secure a pro license and ultimately become rider-partners on the platform.
Through the ‘Haba-Haball to Legal’ program, MOVE IT provides comprehensive guidance and support to habal-habal riders as they compile prerequisites and organize essential documentation for their professional license application. The program also encompasses refresher courses and training sessions, focusing on technical knowledge and skills related to road safety and traffic regulations. These measures significantly enhance the chances of the riders to successfully passing the assessment process of the Land Transportation Office.
Survey: 7 out of 10 Pinoys support hiring of unlicensed nurses in PH healthcare system
A recent survey from Capstone-Intel Corporation revealed that 69 percent of respondents across the country believed that unlicensed nurses could provide quality healthcare services in the Philippine healthcare system, provided that they are supervised by a licensed nurse.
The online survey was conducted from August 1 to August 10, covering 20,381 data-panel respondents, of whom 1,205 responded and finished the survey.
According to the findings, 69 percent of respondents think that unlicensed nurses can give quality medical treatment to patients. The National Capital Region (NCR), Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao all shared the same opinion regarding this matter. At the same time, 16 percent of respondents said that graduates without licenses cannot receive quality treatment, while 15 percent were unsure about this.
Meanwhile, 83 percent of respondents agree that unregistered nurses should be able to work in healthcare settings as long as they are under the supervision of licensed nurses. Only 13 percent of respondents argued that graduates without licenses should be required to complete the board exam before being permitted to work.
Four percent of respondents had not yet made up their minds about whether or not unlicensed graduates should be offered employment opportunities.
SMC Tollways ready for shift to cashless toll collection
SMC Infrastructure is ready to implement the government’s renewed push for a cashless and contactless payment system along expressways.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through its Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), will conduct a dry run starting Friday, Sept. 1 to test the readiness of concessionaires for a smooth and efficient reimplementation of the program.
Under the TRB-directed dry run, only vehicles with an active Autosweep RFID account will be allowed along SMC’s toll expressways, namely the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), Skyway at-grade and Skyways 1,2,3; the NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
Motorists without an active RFID sticker will still be allowed to pass through, but toll personnel will install an RFID sticker on their vehicle so they can exit at the electronic toll collection (ETC) lane towards their destination.
Toll personnel will take a photo of the vehicle license plate and secure the motorist’s mobile phone number. Motorists will then need to complete the registration process by supplying other essential information at the Autosweep RFID website.
Autosweep RFID is a registered vendor at major banks such as Bank of Commerce, and their respective online and electronic banking facilities which makes loading easier. E-wallets can also be used to reload the account, as well as the payment facilities of major convenience stores nationwide.
Motorists who refuse the installation of RFID stickers on their vehicles will have their license plates recorded and tagged, and may be issued violation tickets for obstructing traffic.
Brother brings back Trade-in Madness promo roadshow
Brother Philippines’ highly anticipated return of the Trade-in Madness Promo roadshow allows customers to trade in their old typewriters, printers, fax machines, or all-in-one printing products — regardless of brand or operational condition — and gain access to exclusive discounts when purchasing new Brother printers.
Starting this August 11, customers can score up to 30% worth of discounts by bringing in working or non-working printers, fax machines, copiers, and scanners of any brand. Each registered participant can avail of a maximum of three transactions, and upgrade current printing and digital imaging machines for a much lower price.
Customers needing reliable multi-function machines can enjoy up to a 30% discount on the Brother MFC J2340DW and MFC-J3540DW inkjet printers.
Designed to enhance productivity, the Brother DCP-L2550DW mono laser Multi-Function Center allows users to print, copy, scan, fax, and PC fax high-quality texts and pictures in just a single cost-efficient machine. For cost-efficient printing, customers can count on the Brother DCP-T520W, DCP-T426W, and DCP-T720DW ink tank printers that can handle higher print volumes without compromising quality. Customers can get up to 25% discounts on said printers.
Other premium Brother products that customers can look forward to during the Trade-In Madness Promo are the DCP-T420W Refill Tank Printer, and the DCP L2550DW Laser Printer.
Aside from getting reliable new printing machines at a lower cost, the comeback of Brother’s most anticipated roadshow is also about making a positive impact on the environment by choosing to make the home office an eco-conscious space.
